We have different seasons in the church year. One of these seasons is called Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time is a time for us to grow closer to God, learn more about our Catholic faith and how to live like Jesus.
Expand for older kids: It’s not called “ordinary” because it’s unimportant, but simply because the weeks are numbered. (First week of Ordinary Time, second week, third week, etc. ) Ordinary Time is separated into two parts: winter and summer. During those weeks, the focus is on Jesus’ teachings and his life with his disciples.
Virtue: Faith
Saint: St. Peter
Bible Verse: “We will walk in the name of the Lord our God, forever and ever.” Micah 4:5
Daily Craft Leader Video - Day 3
Grow to Be Saints
Theme Connection:
We are all growing in our faith and learning to discover God’s plan and purpose for our life. When you’re much older, God may call some of you to be a husband or a wife in the sacrament of Marriage. Or perhaps, God may call some of you boys to the priesthood or some of you girls to be religious sisters. This cool craft will remind us that God wants all of us to grow up to become saints.
You’ll Need:
- Clear plastic cup (1/child)
- Potting soil and grass seed
- Googly eyes (2/child)
- Glue Dots or double-sided tape
- Markers and scissors
- Grow To Be Saints graphics (PDF)
- (Opt.) Clear plastic wrap and rubber bands
Prep:
• Print the PDF.
Activity:
1. Choose the pieces you want to use for your little person and color them.
2. Tape the shoes to the bottom of the cup and write your name underneath.
3. Use glue dots to attach the googly eyes, mouth, and any accessories.
4. Fill 3/4 of the cup with dirt and sprinkle the seeds on top.
5. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of dirt and water it when you get home.
Leader: Add a clear plastic wrap and rubber band to the top to prevent spills on the way home.
Peg Doll Priest
Theme Connection:
When the priest celebrates Mass, he wears different colored vestments depending on the liturgical season in the Church year. Every color has a special meaning (see the Liturgical Colors Card). What color would the priest’s vestments be this week? (If your VBS is during Ordinary Time, then the color is green.)
You’ll need:
- Wooden Peg Dolls (1/child) (We used a 2.5 inch (6.5 cm) “male” peg doll)
- Colored permanent markers
- Fabric (purple, green, white, red, pink)
- Liturgical Colors Card (PDF)
Prep:
- Print the Liturgical Colors Card.
- Make a few sample templates for the vestments.
- Pre-cut the fabric for the younger kids. Cut fabric pieces 3.5” x 2” and fold in half.
- Round out the bottom edges and cut a small hole in the fold for the head.
Activity:
1. Draw eyes, hair, and a priest collar on the wooden peg.
2. Write your initials on the bottom.
3. Cut out the five different colored vestments.
4. (Opt.) Draw a cross on the front of the vestments
Rosary Keychain
Theme Connection:
During Ordinary Time, we celebrate several Marian feasts including the birthday of our Blessed Mother (Sept.8), and the Queenship of Mary (Aug. 22). We are going to make a craft to honor Mary!
This Rosary Keychain is made with wooden beads. Did you know that beadwork making was a craft in Jesus’ times? This craft will help us to pray a decade throughout our day. (1 Our Father and 10 Hail Marys) You can clip this Rosary Keychain to your backpack, jackets, or on a set of your mom or dad’s keys. Each time we pray a Hail Mary, we’re offering a gift of love to Jesus and Mary.
You’ll Need:
- Wooden beads (11/child) (1 larger bead for the Our Father, 10 small beads for the decade)
- Keychain rings (1/child)
- Small wooden cross (1/child)
- String
- Scissors
Prep:
- Cut a piece of string about 12-15 inches long.
- For the younger kids: Add the cross to the cord.
Activity:
1. Tie the cross to the end of the string.
2. Slide the Our Father bead onto the string first.
3. Add the 10 small beads. These represent the Hail Mary prayers.
4. You can alternate the colors or designs if you want to create a pattern.
5. Tie a knot at the end of the string to hold the beads in place and then tie it onto the keychain ring.
6. Trim any excess string.
Scripture Memory Cards
Theme Connection:
Creating Scritpture Memory Cards is a fun and engaging way to learn and remember Bible verses. Why do you think memorizing the Word of God is important?
1. God’s Word helps us make good choices. When we know what the Bible says, we can follow His teachings in our daily lives.
2. Memorizing verses gives us strength when we face challenges. We can remember that God is always with us!
3. When we memorize verses, we can share God’s message with our friends and family. It’s a great way to spread joy and love! It’s called evangelization!
4. Learning His Word helps us grow closer to Him. It’s like having a conversation with God every day!
5. When we learn Bible verses, it’s like putting a treasure in our hearts.
You’ll need:
- Book binder or keychain rings (1/child) (ages 7 & up)
- Scripture Memory Cards (PDF)
- Scissors and hole puncher
- Markers
Prep:
• Print and cut out the Bible Verse Memory Cards on cardstock.
Activity:
1. Use a hole puncher to make a hole in the corner of each card. Make sure to keep the holes consistent so they all fit neatly on the binder ring.
2. Thread the book binder ring through the holes in each card. Make sure the verses are facing the same direction for easy reading.
3. Decorate the cards using markers, stickers, or drawings.
